Hybrid test tone for space-averaged room audio calibration using a moving microphone

• US 9,736,584 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Sheen, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thang
• Application Number:
  US14/805,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/005 of digital signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/16 Automatic control
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/22 for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only circuit for combining transducers having different responses H04R3/00; for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone

Abstract

An example implementation may involve a playback device receiving a command that instructs the playback device to emit a calibration sound and responsively causing one or more speakers to emit a periodic calibration sound that covers a calibration frequency range. The periodic calibration sound may include (i) a first component that includes noise at frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

one or more speakers;

a network interface;

one or more processors;

a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a control device via the network interface, a command that instructs the playback device to emit a calibration sound; and

in response to the received command, causing the one or more speakers to emit a periodic calibration sound that covers a calibration frequency range, wherein the periodic calibration sound comprises (i) a first component that includes noise at frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the second threshold frequency is a lower frequency than the first threshold frequency such that the first component and the second component overlap in a transition frequency range that includes frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the first threshold frequency.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating noise that covers at least frequencies between the minimum of the calibration frequency range and the first threshold frequency;

generating a swept sine that covers at least frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the maximum of the calibration frequency range; and

combining the swept sine and the noise into the periodic calibration sound by applying a crossover filter function that combines (i) a portion of the generated noise that includes frequencies below the first threshold frequency and (ii) a portion of the generated swept sine that includes frequencies above the second threshold frequency.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first threshold frequency is the same threshold frequency as the second threshold frequency.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the periodic calibration sound from the control device via the network interface.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein emitting the periodic calibration sound comprises periodically emitting the periodic calibration sound approximately every 0.375 seconds.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein emitting the periodic calibration sound comprises periodically emitting the periodic calibration sound at a period that is within a range of 0.25 seconds to 0.5 seconds.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the second component sweeps through the frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the maximum of the calibration frequency range by descending in frequency from the maximum of the calibration frequency range to the second threshold frequency.

9. A playback device comprising:

one or more speakers; and

a control system that causes the one or more speakers to emit a periodic calibration sound that covers a calibration frequency range, wherein the periodic calibration sound comprises (i) a first component that includes noise at frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range, wherein the control system causes the one or more speakers to emit the periodic calibration sound in response to receiving, from a control device, a command that instructs the playback device to emit the periodic calibration sound.

10. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the second threshold frequency is a lower frequency than the first threshold frequency such that the first component and the second component overlap in a transition frequency range that includes frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the first threshold frequency.

11. The playback device of claim 10, wherein the control system generates noise that covers at least frequencies between the minimum of the calibration frequency range and the first threshold frequency;

generates a swept sine that covers at least frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the maximum of the calibration frequency range; and

combines the swept sine and the noise into the periodic calibration sound by applying a crossover filter function that combines (i) a portion of the generated noise that includes frequencies below the first threshold frequency and (ii) a portion of the generated swept sine that includes frequencies above the second threshold frequency.

12. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the control system causes the playback device to receive the periodic calibration sound from the control device via a network interface.

13. The playback device of claim 9, wherein emitting the periodic calibration sound comprises periodically emitting the periodic calibration sound at a frequency that is within a range of 2 to 4 Hertz.

14. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the second component sweeps through the frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the maximum of the calibration frequency range by descending in frequency from the maximum of the calibration frequency range to the second threshold frequency.

15. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a control device to perform operations comprising:

detecting input data indicating a selection of a selectable control that, when selected, initiates calibration of at least one playback device;

upon detecting the input data indicating the selection of the selectable control, sending, to the at least one playback device via a network interface, (1) a periodic calibration sound that covers a calibration frequency range and (2) a command that instructs the at least one playback device to emit the periodic calibration sound, wherein the periodic calibration sound comprises (i) a first component that includes noise at frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range; and

detecting, via a microphone, at least a portion of the emitted calibration sound from the at least one playback device.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise

generating noise that covers at least frequencies between the minimum of the calibration frequency range and the first threshold frequency;

generating a swept sine that covers at least frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the maximum of the calibration frequency range; and

combining the swept sine and the noise into the periodic calibration sound by applying a crossover filter function that combines (i) a portion of the generated noise that includes frequencies below the first threshold frequency and (ii) a portion of the generated swept sine that includes frequencies above the second threshold frequency.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the second threshold frequency is a lower frequency than the first threshold frequency such that the first component and the second component overlap in a transition frequency range that includes frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the first threshold frequency.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the second component is a sine sweep that descends in frequency from the maximum of the calibration frequency range to the second threshold frequency.

19. A method comprising:

receiving, from a control device via the network interface of a playback device, a command that instructs the playback device to emit a calibration sound; and

in response to the received command, causing, via one or more processors of the playback device, one or more speakers of the playback device to emit a periodic calibration sound that covers a calibration frequency range, wherein the periodic calibration sound comprises (i) a first component that includes noise at frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second threshold frequency is a lower frequency than the first threshold frequency such that the first component and the second component overlap in a transition frequency range that includes frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the first threshold frequency.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the second component sweeps through the frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the maximum of the calibration frequency range by descending in frequency from the maximum of the calibration frequency range to the second threshold frequency.

22. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a playback device to perform a method comprising:

receiving, from a control device via a network interface of the playback device, a command that instructs the playback device to emit a calibration sound; and

in response to the received command, causing the one or more speakers of the playback device to emit a periodic calibration sound that covers a calibration frequency range, wherein the periodic calibration sound comprises (i) a first component that includes noise at frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range.

23. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 22, wherein the second threshold frequency is a lower frequency than the first threshold frequency such that the first component and the second component overlap in a transition frequency range that includes frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the first threshold frequency.

24. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 22, wherein the second component sweeps through the frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the maximum of the calibration frequency range by descending in frequency from the maximum of the calibration frequency range to the second threshold frequency.

25. A control device comprising:

a network interface;

a microphone;

one or more processors;

computer-readable media having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the control device to perform a method comprising;

detecting input data indicating a selection of a selectable control that, when selected, initiates calibration of at least one playback device;

upon detecting the input data indicating the selection of the selectable control, sending, to the at least one playback device via the network interface, (1) a periodic calibration sound that covers a calibration frequency range and (2) a command that instructs the at least one playback device to emit the periodic calibration sound, wherein the periodic calibration sound comprises (i) a first component that includes noise at frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range; and

detecting, via the microphone, at least a portion of the emitted calibration sound from the at least one playback device.

26. The control device of claim 25, wherein the second threshold frequency is a lower frequency than the first threshold frequency such that the first component and the second component overlap in a transition frequency range that includes frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the first threshold frequency.

27. The control device of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises:

generating noise that covers at least frequencies between the minimum of the calibration frequency range and the first threshold frequency;

generating a swept sine that covers at least frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the maximum of the calibration frequency range; and

combining the swept sine and the noise into the periodic calibration sound by applying a crossover filter function that combines (i) a portion of the generated noise that includes frequencies below the first threshold frequency and (ii) a portion of the generated swept sine that includes frequencies above the second threshold frequency.

28. A method for calibration of at least one playback device, the method comprising:

detecting, via a control device, input data indicating a selection of a selectable control that, when selected, initiates calibration of the at least one playback device;

upon detecting the input data indicating the selection of the selectable control, sending, to the at least one playback device via a network interface of the control device, (1) a periodic calibration sound that covers a calibration frequency range and (2) a command that instructs the at least one playback device to emit the periodic calibration sound, wherein the periodic calibration sound comprises (i) a first component that includes noise at frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range; and

detecting, via a microphone of the control device, at least a portion of the emitted calibration sound from the at least one playback device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the second threshold frequency is a lower frequency than the first threshold frequency such that the first component and the second component overlap in a transition frequency range that includes frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the first threshold frequency.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

generating noise that covers at least frequencies between the minimum of the calibration frequency range and the first threshold frequency;

generating a swept sine that covers at least frequencies between the second threshold frequency and the maximum of the calibration frequency range; and

combining the swept sine and the noise into the periodic calibration sound by applying a crossover filter function that combines (i) a portion of the generated noise that includes frequencies below the first threshold frequency and (ii) a portion of the generated swept sine that includes frequencies above the second threshold frequency.